LaKetah “Key” Harper, MSHI, BSN, RN, Staff Nurse III and clinical nurse on 4MST, is currently pursuing her education as a mental health nurse practitioner and is an active student member of the Nurse Practitioner Alliance of Alabama (NPAA). In January 2025, Harper was invited to participate as a student representative at the Alabama State Nurses Association (ASNA) Nurses’ Day at the Capitol, held in February in Montgomery, Alabama.
During the event, Harper learned about the legislative process and visited the offices of elected officials to advocate on behalf of ASNA in support of House Bill (HB) 194. She met with representatives from the office of Minority Leader Thomas Jackson, as well as State House Representatives Datcher, Hendrix, Sellers, and Tillman.
Harper and fellow NPAA members also met with State Representative Paul Lee, sponsor of HB 194, and State Senator Tim Melson, sponsor of Senate Bill (SB) 124. Both bills proposed revisions to the Joint Committee of the Alabama State Board of Medical Examiners and the Board of Nursing for Advanced Practice Nurses. HB 194 expanded committee representation to include two Certified Registered Nurse Practitioners (CRNPs) appointed by NPAA and one Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM) appointed by the Alabama Chapter of Nurse Midwives. This change aimed to strengthen governance by ensuring equitable input from advanced practice nurses in decisions related to practice protocols, formularies, and models of care. The legislation also reflected the needs of Alabama’s 9,500 nurse practitioners and introduced formalized appointment and dispute‑resolution processes to streamline collaborative practice.
These meetings provided Harper and NPAA members the opportunity to deliver an “elevator pitch” to legislators, explaining why their support for these bills was vital to nurse practitioners and to improving access to healthcare across Alabama.
Upon returning to KP San Rafael Medical Center, Harper shared her experiences with colleagues during the July Professional Governance Council Day. She highlighted the American Nurses Association’s 2025 Code of Ethics, Provision 7.4, which emphasizes nurses’ ethical responsibility to shape policy. Harper discussed the importance of nurse advocacy at the local, state, and federal levels and underscored the powerful role nurses play in advancing change. She concluded by announcing the passage of HB 194 into law in May 2025 — a clear demonstration of how collective, nurse‑led advocacy can result in meaningful legislative outcomes.
Providing Harper the opportunity to share her experience reinforced the message that nurses belong at every table where healthcare decisions are made. Harper reflected that it was an honor to contribute to the advancement of her profession.